South Suburban Life Was Good in 2019

(Pictured Mayor Sheila Chalmers Currin) The village of Matteson has 19,000 residents and in 2020, will become home again to Lincoln Mall shopping center. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson
(Pictured Mayor Sheila Chalmers Currin) The village of Matteson has 19,000 residents and in 2020, will become home again to Lincoln Mall shopping center. Photo credit: By Wendell Hutson

South Suburban Life Was Good in 2019

BY WENDELL HUTSON, Contributing Writer

A vibrant and strong economy could be why many south suburban villages made strides this past year with retail, commercial and residential housing developments as well as improving its economic and educational stances in the southlands.

Matteson

The resurrection of the former Lincoln Mall shopping center is currently underway, but the one thing it won’t have upon completion in 2020 is big, box stores. Instead, the 60-acre Market Square Crossing development will have boutique-style stores occupying 160,000 square feet set aside for retail tenants, according to Keith Lord, president of Chicago-based The Lord Companies LLC, which is the project’s developer.

“I envision 50 to 60 retail tenants at Market Square Crossing and we want community-oriented retail that will appeal to residents,” said Lord. “Big box stores are having trouble all across the United States so for now, we’re not going to go down that road.”

The mixed-use project will also include nearly 600 housing units (townhomes and condominiums) built into four-story buildings with commercial use at the ground level. The redevelopment plan will also include an entertainment and sports venue and 30 acres of green space.

Matteson Mayor Sheila Chalmers-Currin said the ‘shovel ready’ project will cost an estimated $250 million to $300 million to complete and will serve as a national model for other mixed-use projects around the world.

Robbins

While the village may be among the poorest municipalities in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, that didn’t stop Mayor Tyrone Ward from hosting the Minority Entrepreneur Interactive Solution Symposium for black entrepreneurs.

“This summit was created to make sure small businesses have the opportunity to network with other businesses. By doing so, that will allow them to learn, gain and build off of each other,” explained Ward. “We [Robbins administrators] wanted to also make sure they’re able to gain access to important information like how to get certified for public programs and grants.”

The predominately black south suburb has a population of 5,480 with the average median income at $32,175, compared with the state median income at $60,960, according to census data.

But Ward, who was elected in 2019 as president of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association, said the village is making progress with attracting new families to the area and improving its economic stance.

“Our annual budget is $2 million and yes, we have had some struggles and continue to have them, much like any other government, but we are improving day by day,” contends Ward.

Hazel Crest

The new Vernard L. Alsberry Jr. Center, 3601 183rd St., is named after the current village president and provides office space for the village as well as meeting rooms and event space for the community. The new center is also equipped with a kitchen and banquet hall and the banquet room has doors that open onto a patio that overlooks a pond.

South Holland

South Suburban College, a two-year community college, received a 10-year accreditation, the maximum allowed, from the Higher Learning Commission.

“The 10-year reaccreditation is a testament to the high level of professionalism of everyone at the college,” said South Suburban College Board Chairman Frank Zuccarelli. “Everyone came together and worked hard during the self‐study process, and I congratulate you.” This reaccreditation marks Zuccarelli’s fourth during his tenure serving on the board.

The college received another top honor this past year when the village’s Education Commission presented Gerald Griffith, a longtime college biology instructor at South Suburban, with the Red Tulip Award.

“The Red Tulip Award is presented annually to educators who work with South Holland students and who demonstrate outstanding service by going beyond their daily duties to effectively change student lives,” said Mike Nylen, chairman of the Village of South Holland Education Commission. “On behalf of the Commission and the Mayor, Clerk and Trustees of the Village of South Holland, we are proud to have presented this award to such a worthy recipient as Gerald Griffith.”

Dolton

To enhance public safety and quality of life in south suburban communities, ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus sponsored grants of up to $10,000 each for 25 public agencies, which included Dolton, through the ComEd Powering Safe Communities Program. Dolton officials said the grant would be used for such things as digital messaging and speed notification signage to cameras that help locate victims in danger.

And ComEd officials said since 2015, it has been sponsoring grants to help suburban municipalities across Illinois.

“The safety of the public and our employees is our highest priority,” said Melissa Washington, a spokeswoman for ComEd. “That’s why we partner with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus each year through the ComEd Powering Safe Communities Program to promote a culture of safety and wellness in our communities.”

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